Oedipus | Greek mythology | Britannica.com Greek mythology Antigone Oedipus, in Greek mythology , the king of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. Homer related that Oedipus’s wife and mother hanged herself when the truth of their relationship became known, though Oedipus apparently continued to rule at Thebes until his death. In the post-Homeric tradition, most familiar from Sophocles ’ Oedipus Rex (or Oedipus the King) and Oedipus at Colonus, there are notable differences in emphasis and detail. Oedipus and the Sphinx, interior of an Attic red-figured … Album/Oronoz/SuperStock According to one version of the story, Laius, king of Thebes, was warned by an oracle that his son would slay him. Accordingly, when his wife, Jocasta ( Iocaste ; in Homer, Epicaste), bore a son, he had the baby exposed (a form of infanticide ) on Cithaeron .

(Tradition has it that his name, which means “Swollen-Foot,” was a result of his feet having been pinned together, but modern scholars are skeptical of that etymology.) A shepherd took pity on the infant, who was adopted by King Polybus of Corinth and his wife and was brought up as their son. In early manhood Oedipus visited Delphi and upon learning that he was fated to kill his father and marry his mother, he resolved never to return to Corinth. The blind Oedipus asks Creon to banish him from Thebes. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Traveling toward Thebes, he encountered Laius, who provoked a quarrel in which Oedipus killed him. Continuing on his way, Oedipus found Thebes plagued by the Sphinx , who put a riddle to all passersby and destroyed those who could not answer. Oedipus solved the riddle, and the Sphinx killed herself. In reward, he received the throne of Thebes and the hand of the widowed queen, his mother, Jocasta. They had four children: Eteocles, Polyneices, Antigone , and Ismene.

Later, when the truth became known, Jocasta committed suicide, and Oedipus (according to another version), after blinding himself, went into exile, accompanied by Antigone and Ismene, leaving his brother-in-law Creon as regent. Oedipus died at Colonus near Athens , where he was swallowed into the earth and became a guardian hero of the land. Similar Topics Oedipus Oedipus See More Oedipus Pictures > Oedipus was a king in Greek mythology, ruling over the city of Thebes . He was the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta . Not knowing, he married his mother and had four children with her, Polynices , Eteocles , Antigone , and Ismene . It all started when King Laius decided to consult the Oracle at Delphi to learn if he and his wife would ever have children. The prophecy given was that any son that was born out of their union would kill them. After a while, Jocasta got pregnant and eventually gave birth to a baby boy.

To avoid the prophecy, Laius told his servants to pierce the baby's ankles, so that he would not be able to crawl; that's how the baby got the name Oedipus , meaning swollen foot. Jocasta then gave the baby to one of their shepherds, telling him to leave the baby in the mountains to die. The shepherd, unable to do this, handed the baby over to another shepherd, who then brought it at the court of King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth . The royal couple, also childless, decided to adopt the poor baby and raise him as their own. When Oedipus grew up, he was told by someone that Polybus and Merope were not his real parents. Deciding to investigate this matter, Oedipus ended up in Delphi , to consult the Oracle. There, he was told that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Upon hearing this, Oedipus thought that the prophecy meant Polybus and Merope, and decided not to return to Corinth . Instead, he started walking towards the city of Thebes .

On his way there, he came across King Laius , his biological father, on a chariot, as he was on his way to the Oracle once again. Oedipus and Laius ' charioteer started quarreling over who had the right of way. The quarrel ended up with Oedipus killing the charioteer and his father, thus unknowingly fulfilling the first half of his prophecy. Later, he met a monster called Sphinx , who plagued the region of Thebes , destroying crops and killing travellers who did not answer its questions. The Sphinx asked Oedipus the same question it asked the rest; what walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three at night? No one had ever answered the question correctly before, and the Sphinx had killed and eaten all of them. Oedipus thought carefully and eventually gave the correct answer; man, who crawls on all fours as a baby; he walks on two legs as an adult; and needs a walking stick when old. The Sphinx , not bearing that its riddle had been answered correctly, killed itself by falling off the rock it was sitting on.

When Oedipus reached Thebes , he was accepted with honours by Creon , Jocasta 's brother and his uncle, who served as a temporary king after Laius ' death. Creon had said that anyone who would kill the Sphinx would become king and would marry Jocasta . Thus, the second part of the prophecy was fulfilled and Oedipus rose to the throne of Thebes , marrying his mother. Oedipus and Jocasta had four children, Eteocles , Polynices , Antigone and Ismene . Years later, pestilence was brought upon the city of Thebes , so Oedipus sent Creon to the Oracle at Delphi to get a consultation. Creon learned that it all happened because the killer of Laius had not been taken to justice. Oedipus cursed the killer of Laius , and asked the prophet Tiresias to find out who the killer was. Tiresias was forced to say that it was Oedipus who killed the former king, and that he also did not know who his true parents were.

Oedipus and Creon went into a heated argument, and Jocasta intervened and recounted the story of her son and how he had supposedly died. At that moment, a messenger from Corinth entered the court and informed everyone that Polybus had died. Oedipus was initially relieved, thinking Polybus was his real father and that the prophecy had failed to become true, but he said he would not attend the funeral, in order to avoid meeting his mother and maybe causing the second part of the prophecy to materialise. The messenger then explained to him that he was in fact adopted and that Polybus and Merope were not his biological parents. This was the revelation moment for everyone; Oedipus realised that he had in fact killed his father years ago, and that he had married his mother. Oedipus tried to find Jocasta who had fled moments earlier, only to find she hanged herself. He then took a brooch from her gown, and using the pin, he pricked his eyes and blinded himself. He fled the city, guided by his daughter Antigone , and reached the court of King Theseus of Athens , where they were both welcomed. He died there some time later.

After Oedipus ' death, his sons Polynices and Eteocles decided to share the throne, but when Eteocles refused to give the throne when his time was over, Polynices left Thebes and returned with an army. This caused the events of the story called Seven Against Thebes , which resulted in both brothers dying on the battlefield. Oedipus Is also called Oidipus, Oidipous. Oedipus - Greek Mythology - Ancinet-Mythology.com Oedipus | Greek Mythology Oedipus was the son of the King Laius and the Queen Jocasta of Thebes. A curse on the Laius fortold that any son born of Jocasta would kill him. When Jocasta did bear a son, the child's feet were pierced and he was left do bleed to death. However, a shepherd found Oedipus and took him to King Polybus of Corinth, who adopted Oedipus. He named the child Oedipus, which means "swelled foot". When Oedipus grew older, he sought advice from an oracle.

The oracle told him that he was destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Fearing that he would harm Polybus, Oedipus fled the kingdom. As he left, he found Laius travelling. The charioteer treated him rudely, so Oedipus killed him and his entire party. Oedipus arrived in Thebes he found the people troubled with Laius' death, and plagued by a monster, the Sphinx. Oedipus managed to outwit the Sphinx and kill it. Fullfilling his destiny, Oedipus then took the thrown of Thebes, marrying his mother, Jocasta. Sophocles retold this famous myth in his tragic play, Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) you can read a full text of his play here: Oedipus Rex . Oedipus - Ancient Greece Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. Oedipus and Sphinx. 1808. Oil on canvas. Louvre, Paris, France. Oedipus Thanks to psychoanalysist Sigmund Freud, the story of Oedipus has become one of the most widely known in the modern world.

However, because of Freud's 'Oedipus Complex', many modern readers focus on his apparent love of his mother and hatred for his father; this is not in fact in keeping with the Greek mythological tradition of Oedipus, the canonical version of which can be found in Sophocles ' trilogy: The Theban Plays. Birth and Early Life Oedipus was the child of Laius and Jocasta, the ruling couple of Thebes. Eager for future-knowledge, Laius journeyed to the oracle at Delphi who gave him the most unwelcome news that his newborn son would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. Perturbed by this news, Laius gave his new son to a herdsman and ordered him to be killed. A spike was driven through baby Oedipus' ankles (causing his ankles to become inflamed and earn him his name, which literally translates as 'swollen-footed') and he was left on the side of Mt. Cithaeron to die. However, destiny cannot be avoided that easily and Oedipus survived, rescued by a peasant in the employ of king Polybus of Corinth.

The peasant took the infant to his master, who adopted him gratefully since he and his wife Merope had been unable to conceive. Polybus and Merope raised Oedipus as their own, but one night at a public feast, a drunken man shouted at Oedipus that he had no idea who his father was. Although his adoptive parents implored Oedipus to ignore the man's ravings, he could not put his mind to rest, and Oedipus resolved to travel to the Oracle at Delphi and ask her the identity of his parents. The Oracle, however, did not tell Oedipus who his parents were, rather revealing the disturbing prophecy that he would couple with his mother and kill his father. Resolving that this should never come to pass, Oedipus did not go back to Corinth, to those he believed to be his parents, but rather headed for Thebes. On his journey, Oedipus came to a crossroads and was faced with a carriage driving the opposite direction.

The driver struck Oedipus to get him to move out of the way, but this enraged the young man, who proceeded to fight and kill the driver and the man he was transporting - King Laius. Having unwittingly fulfilled half of the prophecy, Oedipus carried on to Thebes. The Sphinx The Sphinx, a terrible monster with the body of a lion, wings of an eagle and head of a woman had been sent by the gods to terrorise Thebes as punishment for Laius' misdeeds concerning the rape of a prince of a neighbouring kingdom. This fiend would ask any passing traveller her riddle, and if they were unable to answer correctly, she would devour them. Since no man had been able to guess the answer, Thebes was effectively cut off from the outside world. When Oedipus came to Thebes, the Sphinx asked him her riddle, which he was able to solve. The story goes that she went mad and threw herself off a cliff, thus freeing Thebes from her fearsome influence. The people of Thebes were so grateful to Oedipus that they proclaimed him their king, since Laius had been mysteriously killed on the road.

They also suggested that he marry his widow, Jocasta, to solidify his position as ruler of the city. Thus the prophecy of the Delphic oracle came to pass. The Sphinx as a creature can be seen as early as the mid-3rd millennium BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia, yet the Sphinx seems to have been, in these cultures, to be a religious figure rather than a monster as is the case in the Greek tradition. It has been theorised that the Sphinx is associated with Thebes due to a war between the Minyans and the Cadmeans and that the Sphinx was acting on behalf of the Minyans by preventing the Cadmeans from leaving Thebes. Although the riddle the Sphinx asked is not specified in any early Greek texts, late tradition states that the question she asked was: 'What has four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon and three legs in the evening?' When Oedipus gave her the answer 'man' (for as a baby, man crawls on all fours, as a grown man he walks erect on two legs and in old age he walks with the aid of a stick), she was bested and thus her reign of terror over Thebes was put to an end.

Oedipus the King Aristotle rates Sophocles ' tragedy, 'Oedipus the King' as the greatest ever composed, and it is this text which gives us the most detailed account of his fall from grace after his aforementioned coronation. Sophocles sets the scene many years after Oedipus came to Thebes, when he has been married to Jocasta for many years and sired four children, Antigone, Ismene, Polynices and Eteocles. A plague has struck Thebes and a Priest begs Oedipus, the most cunning and intelligent of all men, to find a solution. As it happens, Oedipus has already sent a messenger in the form of his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi in order to find out how he might appease Apollo and stop the plague. Creon returns with the answer: the city itself is unclean as it harbours the killer of Laius, and he must be found and punished before the city can become cleansed. Oedipus swears to find and execute the murderer and brings down a curse on anyone who harbours him, cursing himself and his family in the process.

Oedipus calls Tiresias, the blind prophet, to help him in his quest, but when the old man refuses to reveal the painful truth to Oedipus, the king becomes angered, causing Tiresias to say that it is Oedipus himself who pollutes the city and is the murderer of Laius. Outraged, Oedipus rails against the prophet and accuses him of being in cahoots with Creon in an attempt to usurp his throne. Oedipus remains resolute that Tiresias is lying until a messenger informs him of Polybus' death and also of the fact that Oedipus was adopted. Against Jocasta's protestations, Oedipus sends for the man who "disposed" of Laius' son, who happens to also be the sole survivor of Oedipus' earlier attack on Laius' carriage. It comes out that Oedipus was the unknown man who killed Laius from the revelation that the old king was killed at the same crossroads Oedipus remembers from his fight.

In addition, it is revealed that Oedipus was the child Jocasta and Laius tried to expose to prevent the prophecy from coming to fruition. When Jocasta realises this to be the case, she runs inside and hangs herself. Oedipus himself takes a little longer to reach this conclusion, but when he does he follows his mother/bride inside, removes her dress pins and uses them to gouge out his eyes, in a gesture which many read psychosexually as Oedipus is violated by the phallic brooches as Jocasta had previously been violated by her own son. Oedipus emerges from the palace blinded and bloody, and is sent out of Thebes into exile by the man he had accused of plotting against him: Creon. The Aftermath The other plays of Sophocles in the Theban cycle, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone, tell the story of what occurred after Oedipus' exile.

Oedipus at Colonus tells of how Oedipus became a wanderer, cared for by his daughter Antigone and how they came to be outside Athens where Theseus took pity on the pair and looked after them both until Oedipus' death. Antigone shows the happenings in Thebes after Oedipus' exile. Sophocles intimates that the kingship was left in the hands of both Polynices and Eteocles, each ruling alternate years. However, Creon had convinced Eteocles to hold on to power, causing Polynices to raise an army and march against Thebes. The two brothers met in combat and killed each other, leaving Creon as the ruler of Thebes (although it is unclear as to whether this was his original intention). Creon decreed that the traitor, Polynices, was to be dishonoured by being denied a proper burial and, thus, passage into the Underworld. Antigone takes it upon herself to inter her brother, but is caught and sentenced to death.

Tiresias later informs Creon of the gods' disapproval of this and so the new king rushes to the cave where Antigone had been left to starve. It is, however, too late and it transpires that Antigone has once again taken matters into her own hands and has hung herself, causing Haemon (her betrothed and Creon's son) to kill himself also. The final blow to Creon, upon hearing of this news, his wife Eurydice takes her own life by hanging, leaving Creon desperate and alone, but still the sole ruler of Thebes. Other versions of the Oedipus Myth Although the quintessential version of the story of Oedipus is that given by Sophocles , the unfortunate king of Thebes is mentioned by other Classical authors. For example, Aeschylus wrote a trilogy concerning Oedipus (this is hardly surprising as it is believed that tragedy had a very limited number of mythological families of which to tell). The third play in the trilogy survives, 'Seven Against Thebes', and tells much the same story as Antigone, with the two sons of Oedipus at battle over the throne of Cadmus.

Ovid also mentions Oedipus, but only in reference to him being the man who defeated the Sphinx, with no mention of his later misfortune, thus is can be speculated that Oedipus' patricide and incest were not as central to the ancients as they are to us today. This theory, however, is discredited when examining book XI of Homer's Odyssey, which references Epicaste (an alternate name for Jocasta) as the woman who, unbeknownst to either of them, married her son Oedipus (although Homer claims that Oedipus went on ruling Thebes). Oedipus' Fate and Responsibility There has been much debate concerning the responsibility of Oedipus and the "fairness" of his punishment. In Greek tragedy and myth in general, it is the norm that someone will suffer some terrible fate as punishment for wrongdoing or some sacrilege. However, it seems as though Oedipus himself has done nothing to warrant the punishment of his awful fate. In fact, the citizens of Thebes in Sophocles ' Oedipus the King revere him as the most intelligent of men and as a good ruler, even referring to him as a father.

As a result, this story has often been read as a comment on the indiscriminate nature of fate, and that even the best of men can be cursed with an unfair fate, which even the gods are unable to divert. This suggestion would imply that Oedipus himself is not to blame for his actions, and thus deserves no punishment for them. An alternative explanation has already been given above, that it was not Oedipus himself who was cursed, but rather the entire line of Laius as payment for his rape of a young prince. Still others suggest that Oedipus is allotted his fate as a pre-emptive penalty for the crimes proscribed in the prophecy, implying that Oedipus would have committed these atrocities whether they were fated or not, and thus the realisation he has committed them is fitting punishment for him. Whichever explanation one finds most convincing, it can be agreed that Oedipus is not being punished for a simple, tangible crime as is the case with many tragic heroes of Greek myth. Oedipus the Scapegoat It has been suggested that the myth of Oedipus is a metaphor for the ancient scapegoat ritual.

The scapegoat ritual was practiced when a community was in a state of emergency e.g. in the grip of a plague or famine, and it involved expelling a pharmakos (human scapegoat) from the town. The pharmakos was often a person of little consequence, such as a criminal or a cripple. The pharmakos would be led like a sacrificial animal to a sacred precinct and either killed or beaten (sources disagree on this point) and then ejected from the city, taking with it the evils and sins of the community and, thus, purifying the town. The Oedipus story parallels this practice quite closely, as Oedipus (technically a cripple) would normally be of little consequence to the city of Thebes. Furthermore, he is physically harmed, albeit by himself, and exiled from the city. It has been said (in Sophocles ' version of the story) that when Laius' killer has been removed from Thebes the plague will abate, thus implying that Oedipus is taking with him the sins of the community, filling the role of the pharmakos and ending the crisis in the town.

Bibliography Edmunds, Lowell (1981). The Sphinx in the Oedipus Legend. Konigstein im Taunus: Hain. ISBN 3-445-02184-8. Sophocles (trans. R. Fagles), The Theban Plays, Penguin Books, 1984 Mythology Oedipus; Antigone Summary and Analysis | GradeSaver Buy Study Guide King Laius of Thebes hears from the Oracle at Delphi that he will die at the hands of his own son. To prevent this from happening, he leaves his baby boy on a mountain for dead, but another man saves the baby. Years later, Laius is murdered by robbers on the road. At the same time, a huge Sphinx has been terrorizing the land. One man, Oedipus , comes upon it on the road. Oedipus has been running away from home because an oracle has predicted he will kill his father. The Sphinx gives him an unsolved riddle: what creature walks on four legs, then two, then three? Oedipus answers: mankind, who crawls, then walks, then uses a cane.

This answer is correct, and the Sphinx kills itself. Oedipus becomes a famous liberator and marries the late king's wife, Jocasta . After years of happy rule, a terrible plague hits the land. An oracle decrees that the only way for the plague to end would be to punish King Laius's killer. Oedipus seeks the truth, but a prophet tells Oedipus that he himself is the killer. A man from the robbery of Laius says the same thing. Upon realizing this truth, it becomes clear to Oedipus that he has killed his father and then married his own mother. Jocasta kills herself, and Oedipus pokes out his eyes, both people feeling immense shame and guilt. Oedipus and his wife/mother Jocasta have several daughters and sons. After the horrific truth came out that Oedipus killed his father and married his mother, Oedipus exiled himself to an island where his daughter Antigone takes care of him until he dies. Back in Thebes, Jocasta's brother, Creon , becomes king, but Oedipus's son Polyneices wages war against him.

Oedipus’s other son Eteocles defends Thebes, and in the fighting, the two brothers kill each other. With his power unchallenged, Creon declares that no one should bury Polyneices, but in Greek culture, the process of burying the dead is very sacred in order to give the soul happiness in the afterlife. In secret, Antigone buries her brother, so Creon kills her for her noble crime. Analysis The famous tales of Oedipus compel us most of all in how Oedipus comes to realize the awful fulfillment of the prophecies and the true circumstances of his fate. Though he is wise enough to beat the Sphinx, his unrelenting search for the truth (in order to help his city recover from the plague) leads to his ruin. Both King Laius and Oedipus attempted to subvert the prophecies, but they both acted out their common fate after all. Free will remains circumscribed by fate, suggesting that humans are bound to a destiny regardless of their choices. Knowledge of the truth proves to be an awful condition for those who have committed great sins. A recurring theme in Greek mythology is that of guilt and innocence.

We have seen how tragic mistakes do not render characters innocent of the crimes they commit. Similarly, Oedipus is guilty for his actions, even though he did not know that he was killing his father and marrying his mother. This story, like the others, raises the question: how can humans be blamed for actions they do not fully understand? As the characters try to purify themselves, will they ever find justice? This myth has taken a special spin since the time of Sigmund Freud, who famously suggested that the simultaneous attractive and revolting power of the myth is not so much about the dangers of truth and knowledge but about the prospect of understanding that boys are fundamentally and unconsciously in love with their mothers and therefore in deathly competition with their fathers. Antigone is a model of honor and sacrifice for the sake of familial loyalty. She cares for her bereft and guilt-ridden father, and then she insists on burying her slain brother in the face of an unjust law and likely death. The tragedy does not depict a reward for her valor, but readers appreciate (or at least debate) her honorable actions.

The gods and magical items are not significant players in this political and social drama; the focus is on Antigone and her moral choices. The theme of family loyalty arises throughout the Greek myths, but in this story, we see how far a character will go to defend it. Other times someone has died or risked death for a family member or a lover; Antigone acts in a way similar to Theseus , Perseus , and Bellerophon . Her actions do not take her on wild adventures, like these other heroes, but she does achieve a heroic, sacrificial status nonetheless. The Greek myths clearly support family loyalty, and this tale stands as a prime example of how the stories were used to convey moral messages. This myth also brings the myths rather far from the tales of gods into the world of human culture and politics. Antigone is caught up in the middle of political and ethical battles fought on human terms and in light of competing human values. Antigone (Greek mythology) - Credo Reference Topic Page: Antigone (Greek mythology) Definition: Antigone from The Columbia Encyclopedia (ăntĭg'ənē), in Greek mythology, daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta.

In Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus, she and her sister Ismene follow their father into exile at Colonus. When her brothers Eteocles and Polynices killed each other in the war of the Seven against Thebes, Creon, King of Thebes, forbade the burial of the rebel Polynices. Antigone defied him and performed the funeral service. She hanged herself in the cave where Creon ordered her buried alive. In addition to Sophocles' Antigone, plays and operas that rework her legend have been written by Anouilh, Brecht, Cocteau, Honegger, and Orff. Summary Article: ANTIGONE from Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology Antigone was one of four children born from the incestuous relationship between Oedipus, king of Thebes, and his mother, Jocasta. In Greek myth and drama, Antigone's chief virtue was loyalty: she guided her father after he blinded and exiled himself; and, in burying her brother Polyneices, she chose family duty and the laws of the gods over the laws of the state.

When King Oedipus went into exile, Antigone accompanied him to Colonus in Attica. Her two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, stayed behind in Thebes under the regency of their uncle, Creon. When Oedipus died, Antigone returned to Thebes to live with her brothers and uncle, as well as her sister Ismene. By then, the brothers had come of age and vied for the throne of Thebes. They decided to take turns ruling the city: one year Eteocles would rule, the next year Polyneices, and so on. At the end of the first year, however, Eteocles made no show of yielding the kingdom to his brother. Polyneices was forced into exile and took refuge with Adrastus, king of Argos, whose daughter Argeia he married. Adrastus helped Polyneices assemble a huge army with seven leaders to attack Thebes—the army became known as the Seven Against Thebes. Deaths in the family The Seven failed dismally, but not before the two sons of Oedipus faced one another in battle and killed each other.

As a consequence Creon, their uncle, became king. He gave an ornate funeral for Eteocles, but forbade the burial of Polyneices, whom he felt had betrayed his people by fighting against his own city. This was a very grave punishment: the ancient Greeks believed that without burial, a human soul could not enter the underworld and instead would flutter ceaselessly above the earth. Antigone could not accept Creon's treatment of her brother, and with a handful of dirt she gave him a symbolic burial. She asked Ismene to help her, but her sister was too afraid. Antigone's action was a direct violation of the king's orders, and Creon sentenced her to death. He locked her up in a tomb chamber and had its entrance sealed. The old prophet Tiresias, however, warned the king that he would be cursed for killing Antigone. Eventually, Creon changed his mind. He allowed a proper burial for Polyneices and opened the entrance to Antigone's tomb, but it was too late: to avoid death by starvation, Antigone had hanged herself.

Creon's son Haemon, who was engaged to marry Antigone, killed himself over his beloved's dead body. His death led Creon's wife, Eurydice, to commit suicide, too. Only Creon himself was left to live out the curse that Tiresias had prophesied. Antigone in literature and art The most famous version of Antigone's story is the play Antigone by Greek dramatist Sophocles (c. 496–406 BCE). Sophocles' tragedy demonstrates Antigone's qualities of piety and heroism. In burying her brother, she follows the laws of the gods in direct violation of the command of the king. She is aware that there will be serious consequences, but in her mind she has no other option but to act. For her, religious beliefs and family duty take precedence over the laws of the city; the burial of her brother is more important than her uncle's command. She does what is right in spite of the consequences to herself. Antigone features in two other tragedies by Sophocles.

In Oedipus the King, she and her sister Ismene appear at the end of the play to be with their father, who has torn out his eyes after learning that he has unwittingly killed his father Laius, and married his own mother. In the sequel to this play, Oedipus at Colonus Antigone is portrayed as a faithful daughter who guides her blind father from place to place during his exile. Antigone has continued to be an important character in more modern times. Inspired by Sophocles' Antigone, German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) wrote several treatises about ethics, the individual, and the state. The first modern production of Antigone was performed with music by German composer Felix Mendelssohn in Potsdam, Germany, in 1841—a production that marked the beginning of the revival of Greek plays in western Europe. Among the many interpretations of the Antigone theme, there is one that deserves special mention.

In 1944, during the German occupation of France in World War II, French dramatist Jean Anouilh (1910–1987) wrote another play called Antigone. Anouilh's drama portrays Creon as a reasonable ruler, while Antigone is hysterical and unwilling to compromise. Yet despite these qualities, Antigone's attitude is very understandable: her brothers have killed one another, Creon has first refused to honor one of his nephews, and then sentenced one of his nieces to death. Under such circumstances, there is no place for reason. The play suggests that Antigone's rebellion against her uncle and life itself is the only choice left to her. The tragic end to the drama comes when Creon realizes that, despite all his power, he cannot stop his niece, son, and wife from destroying themselves. See also: DEATH AND THE AFTERLIFE; HADES; OEDIPUS. Further reading Graves, Robert. The Greek Myths. New York: Penguin, 2003. Sophocles, and Ruth Fainlight and Robert J. Littman, trans. The Theban Plays.

Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009. Citation Oedipus | Define Oedipus at Dictionary.com Oedipus [ed-uh-puh s, ee-duh-] /ˈɛd ə pəs, ˈi də-/ Spell noun, Greek Legend. 1. a king of Thebes, the son of Laius and Jocasta, and the father by Jocasta of Eteocles, Polynices, Antigone, and Ismeme: as was prophesied at his birth, he unwittingly killed his father and married his mother and, in penance, blinded himself and went into exile. Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for Oedipus Expand Contemporary Examples Probably John Gielgud's during the dress rehearsal of Peter Brook's production of Seneca's Oedipus at the Vic. Incest's Defenders Joseph Huff-Hannon September 27, 2009 Historical Examples Sulla celebrated the festival for the victory in Thebes at the fountain of Oedipus, where he erected a stage.

Plutarch's Lives, Volume II Aubrey Stewart & George Long He had fortunately, at that time, just finished his Oedipus at Colonos. Many and many an Oedipus arrives: he has the whole mystery teeming in his brain. Essays Ralph Waldo Emerson Essays, Second Series Ralph Waldo Emerson British Dictionary definitions for Oedipus Expand noun 1. (Greek myth) the son of Laius and Jocasta, the king and queen of Thebes, who killed his father, being unaware of his identity, and unwittingly married his mother, by whom he had four children. When the truth was revealed, he put out his eyes and Jocasta killed herself Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for Oedipus Expand son of Laius and Jocasta, the king and queen of Thebes, Greek, literally "swollen-foot," from oidan "to swell" (from PIE *oid-; see edema ) + pous (genitive podos) "foot" (see foot (n.)). Oedipus complex (1910) coined by Freud. In Latin, figurative references to Oedipus generally referred to solving riddles. Oedipus effect (1957) is Karl Popper's term for "the self-fulfilling nature of prophecies or predictions." Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Expand Oedipus [(ed-uh-puhs, ee-duh-puhs)] In classical mythology , a tragic king who unknowingly killed his father and married his mother.

The Delphic oracle predicted that King Laius of Thebes, a city in Greece , would be killed by his own son. To save himself, Laius ordered his newborn son placed on a mountaintop and left to starve. The infant was rescued by a shepherd and raised in a distant city, where he was given the name Oedipus. Years later, King Laius was killed while on a journey by a stranger with whom he quarreled. Oedipus arrived at Thebes shortly thereafter and saved the city from the ravages of the Sphinx . He was proclaimed king in Laius' stead, and he took the dead king's widow, Jocasta, as his own wife. After several years a terrible plague struck Thebes. The Delphic oracle told Oedipus that to end the plague, he must find and punish the murderer of King Laius. In the course of his investigation, Oedipus discovered that he himself was the killer and that Laius had been his real father. He had therefore murdered his father and married his mother, Jocasta. In his despair at this discovery, Oedipus blinded himself.

Note: The story of Oedipus is the subject of the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles . Note: The Oedipus complex , identified by the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud , takes its name from the story of Oedipus. The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Example Essays: Oedipus Greek Mythology 1. Comparing Sophocle's Oedipus to Creon EVANSBeing one of the most respected men of his day, Sophocles uniquely combined Greek mythology with tragedy into the two of his most known plays: Antigone and Oedipus Rex. ... In Oedipus and Antigone, Sopholcles portrays Oedipus and Creon as once good kings who have lost their ability to reason since they both have been corrupted by power.In Greek mythology the gods are rarely wrong in their predictions of the future. ...

"When Oedipus could see, he beheld the piercing light of Greece, but he had then less understanding of his fate, less inner vision, and less humility than he is beginning t... Word Count: 1320 2. Freud and the Oedipus Complex The Greeks are known for their literature and being "ahead of their time." Greek mythology brings forward many ideas and theories that questions ones ideals and mind. ... In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus tries his best to avoid his destiny that the oracle has foreseen for him. ... In every way Oedipus tries to avoid fulfilling the prophecy; in contrary, Freud's Oedipal complex tells the complete opposite. ... In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus never got to the point where he had any type of desires for his mother. ... From the time Jocasta and Laius abandoned Oedipus he was only three days old, not to ment... Word Count: 608 3.

Greek Heroes If a dictionary defines one form of a hero as referring to a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life, then the heroes of Greek Mythology do not qualify. ... Oedipus, Antigone, and Hecuba all fit this description of a tragic hero. ... No Greek hero knows fate like King Oedipus. ... Her father, King Oedipus also lived very publicly. ... Antigone, Hecuba, and King Oedipus all have contributed numerous comparable qualities into what makes a tragic Greek hero, and what does not. ... Word Count: 636 4. Sophocles Being one of the most respected men of his day, Sophocles uniquely combined Greek mythology with tragedy into the two of his most known plays: Antigone and Oedipus Rex. ... In Oedipus and Antigone, Sopholcles portrays Oedipus and Creon as once good kings who have lost their ability to reason since they both have been corrupted by power.In Greek mythology the gods are rarely wrong in their predictions of the future. ... Oedipus is very vain. ...

"When Oedipus could see, he beheld the piercing light of Greece, but he had then less understanding of his fate, less inner vision, and less humility t... Word Count: 1256 5. Oedipus Complex We all know the story of Oedipus from the Greek myths as they portray him as the one who married his mother. ... Why did Freud use Oedipus to describe this stage? ... The power of Greek myth is never clearer than in the story of Oedipus (Powell, 462)aE.Freud didn"t pay much attention to Greek mythology in much of his work, but as we see he is responsible for the "Oedipus Complex". ... Never did the ancient Greek philosophers believe that in our decade of the 21st century we would still be implementing some of their principles in our form of the "Oedipus Complex". ... In the Classical... Word Count: 822 6. Greek Mythology Nobody I surveyed really knows much of anything about Greek Mythology; according to the answers to my survey. ...

Out of the three, none of them knew the answer to the question "Can you retell the myth of Oedipus?... One knew the myth of Oedipus, Both knew who Narcissus was and neither knew "What myth explains the natural phenomenon we call an echo?" ... Unless you are currently studying Greek Myths in school, they are easy to forget.... Word Count: 679 7. Mythology PART I: Mythology: Man"s Shelter From the Unknown Since the start of time nature"s song has resounded throughout creation. ... In addition, the more direct relationship between man and god allowed mythology to serve as a source of entertainment. ... Besides the great influence Homer"s works had on him, Virgil considered it vital that he connect as much of his tale to Greece for the Roman empire and the very culture of its people had been completely Hellenized (most evident in mythology and art). He knew also recognized however the equal importance of not directly tying the early Rome to Greece... Word Count: 2308 8.

Destiny in Othello and Oedipus the King As in Oedipus the King, a major theme in Othello is man's inability to reliably distinguish between what seems to be and what; however, this shared theme of "uncertain vision" is treated somewhat differently in Othello than it is in Oedipus the King. ... In Oedipus this is manifested through his desire to find out the truth. ... Some experts consider that the prophecy is not self fulfilling or conditional, or in other words some claim that even though it might be accepted that they existed for purposes of mythology, they do not cause the issues that happen, humans do. In his essa... Word Count: 1353 9. The Historics Of Greek Theatre the historics of greek theatreTheater was born in Attica, an Ionic region of Greece. ... He was a Greek dramatist, the earliest of the great tragic poets of Athens. ... It is believed to be the third play of a trilogy, the first two being Laius and Oedipus. ...

The seven extant plays are Antigone, Oedipus Tyrannus or Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King), Electra, Ajax, Trachiniae (Maidens of Trachis), Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Colonus (produced posthumously in 401 BC). ... Oedipus Tyrannus and Electra date from 430 to 415 BC. ... Word Count: 2321 10. Antigone The play "AntigoneaE is a tragedy of Greek Mythology. ... Antigone is a daughter of the former king Oedipus. Oedipus was not raised by his original parents, so when he is a man he unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. ... When Oedipus becomes aware of his deeds he put out his own eyes, and laid himself down to die. ... After Oedipus is dead, Polyneices and Eteocles battle each other for the thrown. ... Word Count: 878 11.

Oedipusâ Morality Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, is a story about King Oedipus, who became a classic tragic hero. Oedipus" tragic fall leading to his downfall was not his fault. ... Oedipus never meant for any of this to happen. ... One of the people who praised Oedipus was the priest. ... These were all powerful examples portraying Oedipus as a moral man.Oedipus was a classic example of a tragic hero in Greek mythology, but also a very moral man. ... Word Count: 854 12. Oedipus Rex Analytical Essay After just a couple days, Apollo matured into an adult, capable of assuming the full responsibilities of a god.Apollo was not simply given his role in mythology of which he represents, but had to prove himself godly. ... Oedipus RexaE is a Greek drama written about the king of Thebes and his tragic life. ... Oedipus is proved guilty.After Oedipus finally realizes and accepts his crimes, he falls into a deep depression. ...

Jocasta commits suicide, and Oedipus thinks it is his fault. ... Oedipus found this out the hard way.... Word Count: 984 13. My Oedipus Complex Frank O"Connor, the author of "My Oedipus ComplexaE, was a member of the Irish Renaissance. ... "My Oedipus ComplexaE was one of those stories.The Greek mythological character Oedipus was the son of Lauis, king of Thebes, and Jocasta. ... Oedipus became ruler of Thebes and wed Jocasta, not knowing she was his mother. Later, Oedipus" true identity was revealed."... As we recall the character Oedipus from Greek mythology, Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother. ... Word Count: 675 16. Gertrude & Lokaste The hierarchical females of Shakespeare"s "HamletaE and Sophocles" "Oedipus RexaE share many common threads. ... However, the most significant similarity between these two Greek tragedies is that both Queens wed the culprit responsible for their husbands" death. ...

Oedipus was destined to murder his father and wed his mother. ... ("HamletaE, Page 258, Line 42) Although Gertrude may not have had relations with a biological relative, such as Iokaste, marrying ones husbands brother was considered incestuous during the days of Greek mythology. ... aE ("Oedipus RexaE&#1... Word Count: 1047 17. On D. H. Lawrence's Sons and L Lawrence's Sons and LoversAnd the Oedipus complex[Abstract]: On D.H. ... [Key words]: Sons and Lovers Oedipus complex During D.H. ... No other important English novel seems to offer quite such a stark illustration of an 'Oedipus complex' "4 What is "Oedipus complex"5? ... The Oedipus complex is seen through out the book, Sons and Lovers. ... One is concerned about the Oedipus complex of mother towards son; the other refers to the Oedipus complex of mother towards son.During her marriage, as to affection, to Mrs. ... Word Count: 4216 18.

Aeschylus, Sophocles, Plato And Dante Dikaiosyne aE" literally means justice in Ancient Greek; however there are several different interpretations as to what justice can mean. ... Moira - Ancient Greek word for what has been fated or predetermined. ... In Sophocles" Oedipus it"s a conflict between fate and the choice of action. ... Oedipus also does everything in his power to attempt to prevent his fate yet to no avail. ... In Greek mythology he was the God of Wealth. ... Word Count: 1953 19. Mythology character list Married to the ugly god Hephaestus.The Fates- 3 powerful beings that have power over both the gods and mortals with their power.Clotho- Spins the thread of life.Lachesis- Assigns people their thread.Atropos- Snips thread of life upon death.Heroes- Mortals with a major part in greek histoy.Hercules- Gets drunk and murders all of his family; Is required to perform 12 great tasks in repentence for his stupidity.Orestes- Kills his mother for killing his father. ...

As prophesied he kills his grandfather (accidentilly).Oedipus- Rids town of sphinx. ... Bravest and most courageous person in trojan ... Word Count: 478 20. Heroes Throughout ancient times the word hero was very common especially in the Greek society. In the Greek Mythology a hero is often referred to as a man of divine ancestry, who is gifted with great courage and strength, celebrated for his braveness, and favored by gods. ... Achilles, the tragic Greek hero of the Trojan War, is a very good example of a mythological hero. ... Considered to be the best Greek warrior of his time, he does not act as a true hero when he has to help the Greeks in the war against the Trojans. ... Aristotle"s best example of a tragic hero is Sophocles"s play "Oedipus of the... Word Count: 839 21. The Hero Concept Throuhout History For example, Oedipus, Theseus and Dionysus score 21, 20 and 19, respectively (Kitaguchi).

Biblical people and figures from non-Greek mythology score high as well, but are usually scored slightly lower than the Greek figures (Kitaguchi). It is interesting to note that the Greek heroes score highest considering that Greek mythology is considered to be the most developed and is also the most popular in the modern world (?... In the ancient world, mythology was not fiction, but was the religion of the people (?... This type of hero was most popular in the ancient cultures, particularly Greek cultu... Word Count: 2005 22. Hamlet He compares Hamlet to the Greek mythological character Oedipus Rex. The myth has Oedipus condemned by fate to kill his father Laius and sleep with his mother. ... There is some similarity here to the Greek mythology because Oedipus himself kills his father and Hamlet reminisces on his mothers" relationship with his father and feels that she shouldn"t have been with him because of her possessive character when really it could be that Hamlet actually envied his father and had he lived, Hamlet may have enacted Claudius" murderous deed on his own father. However, this is open to question because ... Word Count: 1742

Question: In Greek myth who was the mother of Oedipus?
Answer: Jocasta